ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the use of multiple online sources to seek information in such informal or non-academic contexts. It discusses models relevant to understanding non-academic use of multiple sources on the Internet. Several theories on multiple source use on the Internet have been developed in different disciplines, including educational psychology, communication science, and computer science. The chapter also discusses information problem-solving models; models that help explain how people interact with multiple sources on the Internet. It describes models that address two main facets of the interaction with multiple sources: locating and navigating web pages, and evaluating information on the Internet. The process of information seeking on the Internet has been conceptualized as a problem-solving process driven by an information problem. The evaluation of author characteristics on the Internet is also a challenging issue, as identities and professional background can be easily faked on the Internet.
